Sir_ShoxAlot
07-17-2008, 04:01 PM
That's quite a misleading title. I figured since VT is kinda dead, I'd post my article I did for my high school newspaper, The Stampede. I was a freshman this past year, and every year the Journalism 1 classes get to have an insert in the paper called The Stampede Junior. Since it was about that time, I wrote a reflection article on the NCAA Tournament, but still at the same time get a Southeast (my high school) point of view on it.
You guys know good sports journalism when you see it, there are tons of links to articles posted all over ValleyTalk. I thought I'd get your opinion. Let me warn you, though: the editors took out one of my paragraphs that caused my next paragraph make no sense whatsoever. I was mad. But, oh well, here it is.
March is here, bring on the madness
By The artist formerly known as SeanTheShocker
It is an annual rite of spring, reserved for only the best 65. No mercy, no second chances, and one lone survivor.
March Madness is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. 65 teams will battle for bragging rights and a National Championship crown.
The eventual winner faces a long road including rounds one and two, then the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, and the grandest stage of them all-- the Final Four.
Here, four teams fight it out to decide the year's National Champion, and for one of these teams, their own big, shiny ring is only two victories away.
No one reason among multiple others can truly define why March Madness brings excitement beyond regular season play. This is the time when players need to be focused on nothing but basketball in order to win.
"They play with more heart and passion," Reggie Williams, fr., said.
This kind of heart and passion is the same that might be seen in your very own high school, according to head coach Carl Taylor of the basketball team, who compares March Madness to the Kansas State Tournament.
"It's the same form of basketball. You've got to win to keep playing. It's just a higher level," Taylor said.
Winning is essential. Just like in the State Tournament, a win in one round is your ticket to the next. One loss and it's all over.
"It's 'one and done,' " Jordan Cyphers, sr., said. "Anybody can win."
Anybody. Every year there's a school who shows up and pulls off some upsets to make a run in the Big Dance. These are the classic Cinderella stories. The 2006 NCAA Tournament was host to arguably one of the best Cinderellas of all time; the eleventh seeded George Mason Patriots, who rolled through sixth seeded Michigan State, third seeded North Carolina, seventh seeded Wichita State (who was also a Cinderella), and first seeded Connecticut to make a trip to the Final Four, where they were eliminated by the three seed and eventual National Champions, the Florida Gators.
Others don't need a Cinderella or a game-winning buzzer beater to stay addicted to the Big Dance. Some simply love to watch the game of basketball.
"I just like basketball, period. You get to see all the good teams," said junior, Chance Johnson.
There are many elements to March Madness and all for one thing-- a champion, a champion who will defend their crown until March of the next year when 64 other teams will challenge them for the right to the throne. That time is here. Bring on the madness.
Tell me what you think. Just another note-- I'd like to know of colleges with good journalism/mass communication departments, so if you know of any, please share. :original:
Thanks for your time and comments.
You guys know good sports journalism when you see it, there are tons of links to articles posted all over ValleyTalk. I thought I'd get your opinion. Let me warn you, though: the editors took out one of my paragraphs that caused my next paragraph make no sense whatsoever. I was mad. But, oh well, here it is.
March is here, bring on the madness
By The artist formerly known as SeanTheShocker
It is an annual rite of spring, reserved for only the best 65. No mercy, no second chances, and one lone survivor.
March Madness is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. 65 teams will battle for bragging rights and a National Championship crown.
The eventual winner faces a long road including rounds one and two, then the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, and the grandest stage of them all-- the Final Four.
Here, four teams fight it out to decide the year's National Champion, and for one of these teams, their own big, shiny ring is only two victories away.
No one reason among multiple others can truly define why March Madness brings excitement beyond regular season play. This is the time when players need to be focused on nothing but basketball in order to win.
"They play with more heart and passion," Reggie Williams, fr., said.
This kind of heart and passion is the same that might be seen in your very own high school, according to head coach Carl Taylor of the basketball team, who compares March Madness to the Kansas State Tournament.
"It's the same form of basketball. You've got to win to keep playing. It's just a higher level," Taylor said.
Winning is essential. Just like in the State Tournament, a win in one round is your ticket to the next. One loss and it's all over.
"It's 'one and done,' " Jordan Cyphers, sr., said. "Anybody can win."
Anybody. Every year there's a school who shows up and pulls off some upsets to make a run in the Big Dance. These are the classic Cinderella stories. The 2006 NCAA Tournament was host to arguably one of the best Cinderellas of all time; the eleventh seeded George Mason Patriots, who rolled through sixth seeded Michigan State, third seeded North Carolina, seventh seeded Wichita State (who was also a Cinderella), and first seeded Connecticut to make a trip to the Final Four, where they were eliminated by the three seed and eventual National Champions, the Florida Gators.
Others don't need a Cinderella or a game-winning buzzer beater to stay addicted to the Big Dance. Some simply love to watch the game of basketball.
"I just like basketball, period. You get to see all the good teams," said junior, Chance Johnson.
There are many elements to March Madness and all for one thing-- a champion, a champion who will defend their crown until March of the next year when 64 other teams will challenge them for the right to the throne. That time is here. Bring on the madness.
Tell me what you think. Just another note-- I'd like to know of colleges with good journalism/mass communication departments, so if you know of any, please share. :original:
Thanks for your time and comments.